Admiral Safeway update: Demolition begins

ORIGINAL 10:51 AM REPORT: Thanks to WSB’er Diane for pointing out that the fencing’s up all around the Admiral Safeway site. We checked in with Sara Corn at Safeway HQ – and she confirmed that demolition is starting this week. Here’s what we’ve found there this morning: A backhoe’s in place behind the 42nd/Lander house that’s being demolished (top photo) along with the main store building, and Seattle Fire Department crews are doing roof-ventilation training – here’s Ladder 11 on site:

As noted here last month, Safeway has set up a website with project details – the link’s here.

4:25 PM UPDATE: We checked again around 12:30, and the house was still standing – but in the ensuing few hours, it was torn down. Carrie Ann shares this photo:

She says it was quite the attraction for families from nearby Lafayette Elementary once school let out.

Kate K September 20, 2010 (11:03 am)

Why couldn’t that house be moved instead of demolished? It seems like such a waste!

WSB September 20, 2010 (11:13 am)

Kate – it was up for grabs for more than a year – Nickel Brothers, which specializes in moving old houses, was basically selling it for the cost of moving it to a new site – the house itself was virtually free. But I’m told by someone who has seen it that it had some interior problems that just didn’t make it worth anybody’s while. As we wrote in a separate story (which I should link inside this one!), much of its materials have been already stripped and salvaged by a company that offers them to other builders, so some recycling IS going on with it … TR

JanS September 20, 2010 (11:50 am)

that house sat empty for years. It was lovely, but you can’t let something like that sit for a long time. It’s a shame there were no takers, but glad that the wood, and the fireplace tiles, and things were recycled. I was especially enamored with the fireplace tiles :)

Demo in full mode now. I haven’t looked out, but I can hear them. What a difference this will make for the ‘hood when it’s done.

Diane September 20, 2010 (12:01 pm)

I toured an open house yesterday, another gorgeous historic home, this one a brick Tudor, with very similar tiled fireplace; it’s the first thing you see when entering the house; my first thought was how sad that the fireplace and house at Safeway is going to be lost forever; and thankful this other house with its beautiful tiled fireplace is still intact, which btw is for sale for a discounted $625k, just a few blocks south

Forest September 20, 2010 (12:10 pm)

What measures will Lafayette Elementary (across the street on California Ave.) be taking to minimize all the student excitement and distraction while the Safeway store is getting demolished?

JanS September 20, 2010 (12:48 pm)

Diane..just $625K? I’ll get right on that ;-)

Yardvark September 20, 2010 (1:56 pm)

Demolition is such a waste.

Diane September 20, 2010 (3:49 pm)

Forest, I’m already excited and distracted by the prospect of demolition starting any day, any moment; would love to have Safeway demolition party, and memorial for beautiful old house

Diane September 20, 2010 (3:53 pm)

yeh Jan, he told me this is recent reduction from $650k; it’s a gorgeous house, but still pretty high for 2010 in our neighborhood; no alley or garage access, small backyard

Diane September 20, 2010 (5:00 pm)

glad I did not go by there today; really didn’t want to see this house destroyed

David Christensen September 20, 2010 (5:58 pm)

Here is a video from the demolition today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALfEj_O5M0Y

Very noisy there, currently. If you hear loud construction noise outside of the legal construction hours, call DPD Noise Abatement 206-684-7843

WSB September 20, 2010 (6:06 pm)

Well, the aftermath, anyway – any video from before it was a heap of debris? That’s what we missed, things got busy but we thought there would still be some house left around 4 – nope! Thanks for the YT link and the number. Of course, lots more demolition ahead with the main store building … TR

Walnut September 20, 2010 (7:28 pm)

This may have been in a previous WSB article so forgive me, but did the land use MUP give any special work hour noise restrictions for this project?
Sometimes the city restricts noisy activities in the evenings or weekends.
Just looking forward to the next few months of construction…

way2poor September 21, 2010 (12:42 am)

Yeah really Diane…the house for just 625K? I’m sure I’ve got some extra change lying around…

sun*e September 21, 2010 (8:34 am)

I’m glad to see that things are finally happenin’. Can’t wait to shop at the new Safeway. I really hate going to the Jefferson Square one… the traffic/parking is horrendous!

David Christensen September 21, 2010 (11:46 am)

@WSB — Sorry, no video of the house being smashed, but I watched it. I was pleased to see that they were spraying water to keep the debris in the air low, though my eye still felt itchy.

@Walnut –Here is a summary of the noise restrictions:

7a.m. to 6p.m. weekday (not holidays)= no restrictions, really
6p.m.- 8 p.m. weekdays = by special permission only
weekends = think it said no construction, except by special permission (one-time unavoidable stuff)

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